Fecal fermentation products of common bean-derived fiber inhibit C/EBPα and PPARγ expression and lipid accumulation but stimulate PPARδ and UCP2 expression in the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells

Non-starch polysaccharides from kidney beans: comprehensive insight into their extraction, structure and physicochemical and nutritional properties

Kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are an important legume source of carbohydrates, proteins, and bioactive molecules and thus have attracted increasing attention for their high nutritional value and sustainability. Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) in kidney beans account for a high proportion and have a significant impact on their biological functions. Herein, we critically update the information on kidney bean varieties and factors that influence the physicochemical properties of carbohydrates, proteins, and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, their extraction methods, structural characteristics, and health regulatory effects, such as the regulation of intestinal health and anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects, are also summarized. This review will provide suggestions for further investigation of the structure of kidney bean NSPs, their relationships with biological functions, and the development of NSPs as novel plant carbohydrate resources.

Effects of Oat Complex High-Fiber Formula Powder on the Composition of Intestinal Microbiota and Enzyme Activities in Mice Induced by a High-Fat Diet

Using oat-corn-konjac extruded mixed powder, oat bran micro powder, skim milk powder, Pueraria whole powder, and pumpkin powder as raw materials, a formula powder with high dietary fiber was prepared, and its effect on obesity in mice with a high-fat diet was investigated. After 7 days of adaptive feeding, the mice were divided into blank group, high-fat diet group, formula powder + high-fat diet group, and weight-loss drug + high-fat diet group. After 8 weeks of treatment, the body weight of mice were observed and measured to determine the composition of tract flora, liver leptin content, insulin content, and activities of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid synthetase (FAS), sterol-regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), and acetyl CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1). The results indicated that treatment with the formula powder could reduce the body weight of mice and increase the abundance of Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, and Romboutsia compared to the group given a high-fat diet. Moreover, the leptin and insulin contents of the experimental group decreased from 5.67 μg/L to 0.12 μg/L and from 12.71 μg/L to 7.13 μg/L, respectively, compared to the control group, which was not significantly different from the blank group (P > 0.05). Also, the activities of AMPK and LPL increased, and the activities of FAS, SREBPs, and ACC1 were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Some pathogenic bacteria were significantly positively correlated with leptin and FAS and significantly negatively correlated with LPL. Some beneficial bacteria were positively correlated with LPL. Therefore, the formula powder used in this study could reduce the body weight of mice, increase the abundance of some beneficial bacteria in the colonic intestinal microbiota, and improve the activities of enzymes related to lipid metabolism in the liver. This study provides a theoretical reference for the pathway by which high-fiber diet improves liver and intestinal metabolic abnormalities.

Navy Bean Supplementation in Established High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Attenuates the Severity of the Obese Inflammatory Phenotype

Cooked common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) improve intestinal health in lean mice and attenuate intestinal dysbiosis and inflammation when consumed concurrent with obesity development. We determined the effects of a high-fat (HF) bean supplemented diet in mice with established obesity (induced by 12 weeks of HF diet (60% fat as kcal)) compared to obese mice consuming a HF or low-fat (LF) weight loss control diet. Obese C57BL/6 male mice remained consuming HF for eight weeks or were randomly switched from HF to an isocaloric HF with 15.7% cooked navy bean powder diet (HF→HFB) or LF (11% fat as kcal; HF→LF) (n = 12/group). HF→HFB improved the obese phenotype, including (i) fecal microbiome (increased Prevotella, Akkermansia muciniphila, and short-chain fatty acid levels), (ii) intestinal health (increased ZO-1, claudin-2, Muc2, Relmβ, and Reg3γ expression), and (iii) reduced adipose tissue (AT) inflammatory proteins (NFκBp65, STAT3, IL-6, MCP-1, and MIP-1α), versus HF (p < 0.05). Conversely, HF→LF reduced body weight and circulating hormones (leptin, resistin, and PAI-1) versus HF and HF→HFB (p < 0.05); however, AT inflammation and intestinal health markers were not improved to the same degree as HF→HFB (p < 0.05). Despite remaining on a HF obesogenic diet, introducing beans in established obesity improved the obese phenotype (intestinal health and adipose inflammation) more substantially than weight loss alone.